Gallery: Ultra-Orthodox Jews celebrate holiday in costume

MENAHEM KAHANA, AFP/Getty Images03.18.2014

Ultra-Orthodox Jews read the Book of Esther near dressed up children at a synagogue in Jerusalem on March 16, 2014 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.

MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Palestinian children (top) look on as an Israeli settler dressed up and wearing a mask takes part in a parade to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim in al-Shuhada Street, in the West Bank town of Hebron, on March 16, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Israeli soldiers secure the area as Israeli settler children dressed up in masks take part in a parade to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim in al-Shuhada Street, in the West Bank town of Hebron, on March 16, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian Empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men walk past a girl in costume during Purim celebrations in Jerusalem, Monday, March 17, 2014. The festival of Purim commemorates the rescue of Jews from genocide in ancient Persia recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.Sebastian Scheiner
/ AP

An Ultra-Orthodox boy smokes a cigarette during the Purim holiday celebrations in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.THOMAS COEX
/ AFP/Getty Images

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men dance at a yeshiva, a rabbinical seminary, during Purim celebrations in Jerusalem Monday, March 17, 2014. The festival of Purim commemorates the rescue of Jews from genocide in ancient Persia recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.Sebastian Scheiner
/ AP

Ultra-Orthodox Jews read the Book of Esther at a synagogue in Jerusalem on March 16, 2014 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men celebrate the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.THOMAS COEX
/ AFP/Getty Images

Israeli dancers take part in a parade to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim on March 16, 2014 in the central Israeli city of Netanya. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.JACK GUEZ
/ AFP/Getty Images

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy wearing a robot costume, stands outside a synagogue, marking the Purim festival in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther which is read in synagogues. Other customs include sending food parcels and giving charity, dressing up in masks and costumes, eating a festive meal and public celebration.Ariel Schalit
/ AP

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man walks in costume with others during Purim celebrations in Jerusalem, Monday, March 17, 2014. The festival of Purim commemorates the rescue of Jews from genocide in ancient Persia recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.Sebastian Scheiner
/ AP

A person dressed in a Purim costume sits in a car during celebrations of the Jewish holiday in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014.. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl dressed in costume walks in the street during the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men celebrate the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy wearing a mask, walks during the Purim festival in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 16, 2014. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews’ salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther which is read in synagogues. Other customs include sending food parcels and giving charity, dressing up in masks and costumes, eating a festive meal and public celebration.Ariel Schalit
/ AP

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth wears a costume as he celebrates the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Dressed up Israelis take part in a parade to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim on March 16, 2014 in the central Israeli city of Netanya. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.JACK GUEZ
/ AFP/Getty Images

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men celebrate the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.THOMAS COEX
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man wears a mask as he celebrates the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.THOMAS COEX
/ AFP/Getty Images

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish family dressed in costumes celebrate the Purim holiday in the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem on March 17, 2014. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties and drinking wine to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.MENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy wearing a costume walks in Jerusalem on March 16, 2014 during the feast of Purim. The carnival-like Purim holiday is celebrated with parades and costume parties to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them in the ancient Persian empire 2,500 years ago, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. AMENAHEM KAHANA
/ AFP/Getty Images

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